Radioactivity of Lake Sevan (Armenia) bottom sediments

Paleo-radioecological investigations of bottom sediments of Lake Sevan, the second highest freshwater Alpine lake in the world, were performed in 2002 and 2003. Our research is the first paleolimnological study of Lake Sevan by sediment dating with 210Pb and 137Cs and geochemical analysis of sediment cores from the lake bottom. These sediments hold a valuable historical record of natural variations that occurred prior to the 1930s as well as anthropogenic changes that resulted from man-made intervention. Moreover the position of Lake Sevan in the high South Caucasus Mountains makes it an ideal location in the world for preserving radioecological record of global fallout. (author)